Northwest NEWS

Council discusses WHS parking

City owned property on the northeast corner of NE 195th and 136th NE is under consideration by the Woodinville City Council for use by Woodinville High School for additional parking.

Bill Linder, an adjacent property owner and representing Woodinville Public Auto Auction requested that the city fill and pave a portion of the public right of way abutting his property to accomodate the school parking.

The property is 110' x 50' and will accomodate 12 cars according to the city. Linder felt that the site would hold 32 cars.

The city is studying the feasbility and legality of the request.

Deborah Knight, Interim Public Works Director, said that the cost for development would be between $35,000 to $55,000. Concern was also raised about the Little Bear Creek which crosses a portion of the site and significant environmental issues that would need to be addressed.

Discussion covered a variety of alternatives including involving METRO and more participation from the Northshore School District.

The council recommended that staff consider the legal feasibility and reintroduce the proposal at the next council meeting on Oct. 26.

The Parks and Recreation Commission introduced a proposal for promoting public art and five specific projects for 1998 and 1999.

The council discussed the issue of public art and decided that all public art projects should be funded by donations, grants or by an art loan program rather than new city funding. A recent $2,000 donation from Target will be spent on the first public art sculpture for the city. The council requested that the Parks and Recreation Commission return with a recommendation of what they could find in their 1999 operating budget to cover any public art requests.

James Clayton was honored for dedicated service as a member of the Planning Commission.

Susan Harper from Cascade Columbia Alliance testified before the council expressing her concerns about the safety and reliability for the proposed Olympic Pipe Line.

The council will hear the pro-pipe line issue from Olympic Pipe Line Company about the proposed Cross Cascade Pipeline at the Oct. 26 council meeting.

The new King County Surface Water Design Manual is ready for release. The city is considering adopting the new design standards. Discussion covered local power issues. No action was taken.

CH2M Hill, under contract by the city for engineering services, presented a proposal for a new software program for traffic forecasting. It was reported that the average increase between intersections within the city limits is 3% - 5%.